According
to the results of an early study, triheptanoin –
synthetically-formulated triglyceride oil could offer fresh hope for
those suffering from Huntington’s disease. It is an inherited
disorder that leads nerve cells breaking down within the brain. This
break down is most pronounced in areas of the brain that control
movements, behavior, emotions, and memory. Studies have shown in the
past that if a parent suffers from Huntington’s, there is a 50%
chance that the child will develop it too. The study appears in the
January edition of the medical journal Neurology, which is published
by the American Academy of Neurology.

The
symptoms of Huntington’s disease begin to appear around the age
bracket of 30 years to 50 years. According to the author of the
study, Fanny Mochel, MD, PhD, the study indicates that the
synthetically-formulated triglyceride oil could hold the ability to
improve the metabolic profile of the brain at the outset of the
disease.

Mochel
also added that the results of this study should be taken with
caution considering that both participants and researchers were aware
of whether they were getting the synthetically-formulated
triglyceride oil or not. After studying the patients during
month-long therapy, researchers noticed improved motor skills and
movement among those suffering from the disease.

The
energy profiles of the patients were analyzed using MRI brain scans
before, at the time, and following the visual stimulation of the
brain in nine patients who were diagnosed as being at the early
stages of the disease. 13 people without the disease were also a part
of the analysis. The same test was carried out a month later, and in
those that did not have Huntington’s disease, it was observed that
stimulation wasn’t required to increase the metabolism of the
brain, and it then went back to the normal level. However, in
patients suffering from Huntington’s disease, no change in
metabolism was observed. In the second section of the study, only
those diagnosed with Huntington’s disease were administered
triheptanoin. After a month of this, the brain metabolism was
observed to be normal. Researchers said that if the findings of these
studies are confirmed, it could provide a ray of hope for those
suffering from Huntington’s disease.